Can tourism unite us? Through travel might we discover that our neighbours aren’t so different, that in fact we share traditions, expressions or favourite dishes? At a time when borders seem to be back in vogue and countries are shutting themselves away, these guidebooks intend to stir things up a bit. Forget borders as you know them. Forget the nationalities you hear about every day on TV. We are about to take a step back in time and into a different geography. Let’s set off to discover the Extinguished Countries! The rules of the game are simple: we replace the contemporary world map with the yellow-tinged ones from a few centuries ago. Within this new-old reality, we arrange an itinerary that you can follow as you see fit: in summer or winter, from time to time or all in one go. The path of our journey is twofold: in both the present and the past, following the territorial continuity of a state that no longer exists. In fact, what you have in your hands is not a simple travel guide, but the key for unlocking the rigid world of nation-states. A ladder to cross borders without obstacles. A pocket-sized time machine.